Analysis of a Column Subjected to Follower Forces by a Meshless Local Petrov-Galerkin Method

Abstract

*Meshless methods, such as the Meshless Local Petrov Galerkin (MLPG) method, are increasingly being viewed as an alternative to the finite element method. The MLPG method is applied to the buckling of a column subjected to follower forces. While the Euler buckling can be analyzed by static methods, the nonconservative problems need dynamic criteria of stability. The dynamic criteria of stability utilize small vibrations of the column. In this paper, the stability of these columns is investigated using the MLPG method using radial basis functions. The results are compared with those by other methods in the literature. The present RPG method yields accurate results for the critical loads.